Sorting machine



vlNov. 5, 1957' A. A. cARNlNE ETL 2,812,079

somme MACHINE Filed June 16. 1952 7 sheets-sheet 2 BY ru/M QTTOIZNEVSNov. 5, 1957 A. A. cARNlNE ETAL 2,812,079

soRTING MACHINE Filed June 1s, 1952 Y 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 QBTHUR Q, CQQNINELEONIDQS C. MILLER IN VEN TORS Nov. 5, 1957 A. A. cARNlNE Erm. 2,812,079

SORTING MACHINE l Filed June 16, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 QRTHUQ n. cnmm-zLeomons c, 1114.22 v 9o INVENToRs www NOV- 5, 1957 A, A. cARNlNE ETAL2,812,079

soRTING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1952 7 sheets-sheet s IOO 59 l naz-mu Q.CQQNINE 45 L EoNlDns c. MILLEQ IN VEN [ORS HM 3 BY wrm Nov. 5, 1957 A A.A. cARNlNE ETAL 2,812,079

SORTING MACHINE Filed June 16. 1952 7'Sheets-Sheejz-6 SLIP CLUTCH F/a/Z,

TO MOTOB 84 QIITI-IUQ Q. CQQNINE LEONIDQS C. MILLER INVENTORS Nov. 5,1957 A. A. cARNlNE ETAL l 2,812,079

SORTING MACHINE Filed June 16. 1952 7 Sheets-Sheeft '7 ,Z5 125 fg :Z7 H55 s #25 Z9 19o. J. A2Z

SLIP CLUTCH l nMPLu-'IEQ l INVENTORS QTTOIZNEVS United States Patent OSORTING MACHINE Arthur A. Carnine, South Pasadena, and Leonidas Miller,Los Angeles, Calif.; said Miller assignor to said Carnine ApplicationJune 16, 1952, Serial No. 293,822

11 Claims. (Cl. 214-11) This invention relates to apparatus for sortingsales tickets, freight bills, checks, invoices or other paper slips orcards that are substantially uniform in size and weight. The inventionis particularly directed to a machine which Will sort such papers orcards at a high rate of speed and deposit the sorted items in anydesired numerical or alphabetical sequence.

Large companies engaged in selling to the retail market may have manythousands of accounts and each month carbon copies of sales tickets orcredit card purchases or the like must be sorted so that a separatestatement can be rendered to each account. Much of the necessary sortingis now done manually at relatively high cost and slow speed. Sortingmachines now commercially available have the disadvantages of lowcapacity, high initial cost and lack of flexibility.

It is the principal object of our invention to provide an improvedsorting machine which overcomes the disadvantages enumerated and whichis capable of a very high sorting rate while requiring the attention ofonly a single operator.

Another object is to provide a sorting machine having an endlessconveyer provided with a series of conveyer elements, together withintelligence-carrying means on each conveyer element which is operableto effect release of an item carried by said element adjacent one of aseries of sorting compartments spaced along the direction of travel ofthe conveyer.

Another object is to provide improved means enabling an operator toplace the necessary intelligence on each of the conveyer elements insequence.

Another object is to provide a sorting machine employing a moving tapewhich controls the sorting operations as the items to be sorted are fedseriatim into y the machine.

Another object is to provide improved means enabling the operator toplace the necessary intelligence on the tape for controlling sortingoperations in the machine.

Another object is to provide an improved conveyer device for carryingeach of the items for sorting from a common inlet position to one of alarge number of discharge positions, under control of the tape.

Another object is to provide a sorting device of novel type havingvacuum operated means for separately conveying each of the items to besorted.

Another object is to provide improved means whereby theintelligence-carrying tape may control the operation of the sortingconveyer device.

Another object is to provide a sorting apparatus in which the operatortransfers intelligence in sequence from each of the items to be sortedto a tape member, and in which the tape member and items to be sortedmay then be transferred to a conveyer-like sorting machine, so that thesorting operation may be carried out automatically under control of thetape without attention from the operator.

2,812,079 Patented Nov. 5, 1957 Other and more detailed objects andadvantages will appear hereinafter.

In the general plan of operation, the items to be sorted pass seriatimbefore the operator so that the operator can see an identifying numberor letter printed on each item. The items pass by the operators viewingscreen at a speed limited only by the operators ability to read theidentifying letters or numbers on the items. The operator has akeyboard, preferably with ten keys for each hand. Such a keyboard willoperate Ia machine having one hundred separate compartments or receivingpockets.

The keyboard is connected electrically to transfer intelligence directlyto a conveyer sorting device, or alternately to a tape member which isin turn used to control operation of a conveyer type sorting device.When the keyboard is connected to transfer the intelligence directly tothe sorting conveyer, each of the conveyer elements is provided withswitch operating mechanism, which mechanism is set by actuation of thekeys as each conveyer element passes a particular station. The conveyerelement then picks up its corresponding item for sorting and carries italong the path of the conveyer over a series of stationary sortingcompartments. When the switch operating mechanism reaches the properelectric switch, the conveyer element is caused to dis charge itsparticular item for sorting into the correct sorting compartment.Subsequently the switch operating mechanism is returned to neutralposition for resetting.

When the keyboard is connected to transfer intelligence to a movingtape, actuation of a key or combination of keys causes a hole to bepunched in a moving tape, or .an electrical impulse to be transmitted toa moving magnetic tape, or other intelligence to be transmitted to themoving tape member. The position of the hole or the type of electricalimpulse or other intelligence transmitted to the tape corresponds to theparticular combination of keys punched by the operator. After passingthe viewing screen, the items to be sorted are picked up in sequence andcarried along by the sorting conveyer which passes over a series ofstationary sorting compartments. The speed of the moving tape issynchronized with respect to the rate of feed of the items to be sortedand the rate of travel of the conveyer. The tape travels along until theparticular intelligence thereon actuates one of a series of electricalswitches. The switch closes an electrical circuit which is effective todeposit the particular corresponding item in the proper sortingcompartment. i

The tape may be employed to control the operation of the sortingconveyer during the time interval while the operator transfersintelligence to the tape or, if desired, the items to be sorted and thetape corresponding thereto may be placed in the sorting machine at atime subsequent to the transferring of intelligence to the tape. By thismeans, an operator can prepare a control tape for a particular group ofitems to be sorted, and the tape and group of items later mounted in thesorting conveyer for carrying out the actual sorting operation. t

In the` drawings: f

Figure l is a front elevation showing a sorting machine embodying ourinvention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, taken substantially onthe lines 2-2 as shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the lines 3--3as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing details ofconstruction of the forward end of the sorting conveyer;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the lines 5-5as shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view, partly in section, taken substantially on thelines 6-6 as shown in Figure 4;

Figure' 7 is a detailed sectional elevation taken substantially on thelines 7 7 as shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 8-8 asshown in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 9--9 asshown in Figure 5;

Figure l0 is a diagrammatic view and wiring diagram showing theprinciple of operation of the device illustrated in Figures 1-9;

Figure 1l is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing a modifiedform of device employing a control tape;

Figure lla is -a diagrammatic view partly in section showing anarrangement for the structure shown in Figure ll employing a magneticcontrol tape,

Figure 12a is a diagrammatic view and wiring diagram showing an`arrangement for controlling operation of the sorting conveyor frominformation recorded on the magnetic tape.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view and wiring diagram `showing use of thetape for controlling operation of the sorting conveyer; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one form of the control tape.

Referring to the drawings, the housing generally designated provides anenclosure for the sheet feeding mechanism 11, the viewing conveyer .12,the sheet transfer device 13, the sorting conveyer 14, the triggersetting mechanism 15 and the sorting compartments 16. The keyboards 17and 18 project from the forward end of the housing 10 for easyaccessibility. The sheets, cards or other items 19 to be sorted aremounted in a hopper 2G and fed in sequence through a conventional feedroller 21. The roller 21 is driven under power from chain 22 extendingfrom the drive sprocket 23 on the output shaft of the gear transmission24. An electric motor 25 supplies power from the transmission 24. Thechain 22 drives sprocket 26, which in turn drives gears 27 and 28 andthereby turns the feed roller 21.

The sheets 19 are thus fed serially between the belts 29 and 30 of theviewing conveyer mechanism 12. The sheets 19 pass in sequence below thetransparent panel 31 so that the operator can see identifying numbers orletters printed on each sheet 19.

The power sprocket 54 drives chain 55 `and sprocket 56 on shaft 57. Thisshaft 57 drives the lower belt 30. The shaft 57 also drives shaft 58through gears 59 and 60. The pulley 61 xed on shaft 58 drives thetransfer belt 62. A chain 63 connecting sprockets 64 and 65 drives theshaft 66 and this shaft in turn drives the belts 29. As the particularnumber or letter passes the index marks 32 mounted on the housing 10(see Figure l), the operator depresses the key or keys 33 on thekeyboards 17 and 18 corresponding to the number or letter on theparticular sheet 19 then passing the index marks 32.

As shown diagrammatically in Figure l0, depressing one or more of thekeys 33 serves to actuate an electric switch 34 and thereby close anelectric circuit through a corresponding solenoid 35. The passage ofelectric current through the solenoid 35 causes the armature 36 thereofto be retracted and thereby causes the pivoted lever` 37 to depress aswitch operating tab or trigger 33 with respect to its carrier bar 39.

One of these carrier bars 39 is fixed to each link 40 in the sortingconveyer 14, and projects laterally therefrom. Each carrier bar 39 isprovided with a seri'esof triggers 38 spaced along the length thereofand mounted in parallel relation. As shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, eachtrigger 38 has a stem 41 provided with a head. Detents 43 are providedin the stem 41` for engagement bya spring urged ball 44. By means ofthis arrangement, each of the triggers 38 .is frictionally held in oneof two positions. As shown in Figure 6, 7 and S, a solenoid 35 andpivoted lever 37 are provided for each of the triggers 38. The levers 37are of two different lengths in order to enable the large number ofsolenoids 35 to be mounted within a case 45 having minimum overalldimensions. In the particular arrangement illustrated, each keyboard 17and 18 has ten keys 33. Each key 33 operates its own particular solenoid35 and its own particular trigger 38.

The operator depresses certain of the keys 33 when the indicia on thesheet 19 is approximately in alignment with the index marks 32. At thisinstance one of the carrier bars 39 is approaching a position directlybelow the operating ends 46 of the pivoted levers 37. lf the carrier bar39 is directly below the operating ends 46 when the keys 33 are punchedby the operator, the head ends 42 of certain of the triggers 38 arecontacted by the pivoted levers 37 and depressed relative to the carrierbar 39. If the carrier bar is approaching a position below the operatingends 46 of the pivoted levers 37 at the time the keys 33 are punched,certain of the levers 37 are swung to operating position when therounded ends 46 engage certain of the heads 42 on the triggers 38 as thecarrier bar 39 moves under the rounded ends 46 on the levers 37.

The link 40, together with its carrier bar 39, moves forwardly and theposition of the triggers 38 is now fixed for subsequent actuation ofelectric switches, as described below. The length of the path of travelof the link 4() from the trigger setting station, generally designated47, to the sheet pick up position, generally designated 48, is the sameas the length of travel of the sheet 19 from its position adjacent theindex marks 32 to the pick up position 48. Thus, the sheet 19 is pickedup by the particular link 40 having its switch triggers 38 set in aposition corresponding to the number or letter printed on thatparticular sheet 19.

The sheet 19 passes from between the belts 29 and 30 of the viewingconveyer 12 under the transfer belt 49. This transfer belt 49 passesaround the small end rollers 59 and 51 and around the central largerroller 52. The belt 49 receives its motion from frictional contact withthe outer curved surfaces 53 of the links 40 and is not separatelypowered.

Means are provided for securing each of the sheets 19 to its particularlink 40. As shown in the drawings, this means includes a suction chamber67 which acts to apply suction to the recess 68 in each of the duplicatelinks 40. The links 40 are connected by pins 69 which pass through ears70 and 71. The curved face 53 of cach link 40 is provided with a seriesof small apertures 72, which communicate with the recess 68. An opening73 in the back side of each link 40 communicates with the chamber 67.Resilient seal elements 74 are mounted between adjacent links 40 andthese seal elements are sufficiently wide to span the distance betweenthe parallel side plates 75 of the chamber 67. T he cover plate 76 isintegrally joined with the side plates 75 to form an inverted channelmember, generally designated as 77. This channel member cooperates withthe flat surfaces 78 on the links 40 and with the resilient sealelements 74 to define the chamber 67. Slipper rails 79 (see Figures 4and 5) may be provided on the lower edges of the side plates 75 forcontacting the links 40 and the resilient seal elements 74. An upturnedshoe Si) at the forward ends of the slipper rails 79 engages each of thelinks 40 in sequence. The belt 49 holds the sheets 19 in engagement withthe curved faces 53 on the links 40 until suction pressure is applied tothe recess 68 from the suction chamber 67. The application of suctionpressure to the recess 68 lowers the pressure in each of the apertures72, with the result that each sheet 19 is held to its respective link 40by means of suction pressure.

At intervals along the length of the chamber 67 are provided lateralpipes 81 which are connected to a header, not shown, leading to a powerdriven suction pump, not

, asienta shown, or other source of suction pressure. The pressurewithin the .chamber 67 is only slightly below' atmospheric pressure butthis is sufficient to cause each of the sheets 19 to adhere tightly tothe curved surface 53 on each of the conveyer links 40.

Means are provided at intervals along the length of the inverted channel77 to eifect disengagement of each sheet 19 with respect to its carryinglink 40. As shown in the drawings, this means includes a series ofsolenoid operated valves 82 which are each connected to a pressuresupply pipe 83 and which are provided with downward directed dischargenozzles 84. The position of the nozzle 8d and the size of the opening 73is so chosen that a short blast of air under pressure through the nozzle84 is suicient to increase the pressure within the recess 68 directlytherebelow so that the sheet 19 is quickly and efectively separated fromthe curved face 53. The volume Iof air admitted through each nozzle 84for separating the sheet 19 is insufcient to cause any appreciablechange of the pressure Within the relatively large vacuum chamber 67.

A pair of electric switches 85 is associated with each of the solenoidvalves 82 andis mounted on a stationary part of the machine. Each pairof electric switches has its own distinctive spacing and each iscontacted by only one of the triggers 38. As shown in Figure 5, theswitches 85 and solenoid valve 82 are connected in series so that bothswitches 85 must be closed in order to energize the solenoid valve 82and admit a blast of cornpressed air through the nozzle 8'4. From thisdescription, it will be understood that any particular solenoid valve 82is actuated only when the particular combination of triggers 38 on oneof the bars 39 is such as to actuate both of the switches 85. In thedevice shown in the drawings, there are two groups of triggers 38 oneach of the bars 39 and oniy one trigger is displaced on each group.Consequently one hundred different combinations are provided and henceit is possible to have one hundred solenoid Valves 82 and associatednozzles 84 spaced along the length of the inverted channel 77. Y

Under each of the solenoid valves 82 is positioned a sorting compartment86, 87, 88, 89, et seq. These sorting compartments may comprisestationary bins or, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, may be mountedon a conveyer belt 99 so that after the sorting operation is completethe sorted piles can be brought to the forward end of the machine ingroups and removed by the operator. During the sorting operation, theconveyor belt 99 remains at rest. I

The motor 2S supplies power through the transmission 24 to drive thesorting conveyer 14 via sprocket 91, chain 92, sprocket 93 and shaft 94.The sprocket 95 at the forward end of the machine is driven by the shaft94 and this sprocket engages the links it? of the conveyer 14 in themanner shown clearly in Figure 4. The idler sprocket 96 engages thelinks 48 in the other end of the machine. Guide rails 97 may be providedfor minimizing sag of the upper flight of the conveyer 14 and similarlyguide rails 98 are provided to support the links 40 against saggingmovementv away from contact with'the slipper rails 79 on the invertedchannel 77.

At one of the sorting compartments 99, and preferably the one mostremote from the forward end of the machine, the corresponding solenoidvalve 82EL is caused to open whenever one of the bars 39 passes beneathit and regardless of the setting of the various trigger elements 38. Bythis means, any sheet 19 which has remained on its carrying link andtraveled past all of the regular sorting compartments will be dischargedinto the catchall compartment 99. A particular sheet 19 might fail tofall into its proper compartment if the operator had failed to operatethe keyboards while that particular sheet Was passing the index marks32. The solenoid valve 82a, which acts successively on each link 40,insures that all of the sheets 19 shall be separated from the carryinglinks 40 before the links reach the idler sprocket 96.

Means are provided to reset each of the triggers 38 to a neutralposition before the triggers approach the station 47. As shown inFigures 6 and 8 of the drawings, this means may comprise a stationarycurvedrplate 1d() carried on a support 101 attached to the housing. Theplate is shaped so that as the triggers 38 pass thereover each of thedepressed ktriggers is returned to its elevated position.

The operation of the machine will be yclear from the foregoingdescription. The sheets 19 are stacked in the hopper 20 and proceed insequence through the viewing conveyer 12, the transfer conveyer 13 andare each picked up by one of the links at the station 48. Each sheet 19is held against its respective carrying link 4t) by means of the beltsi9 until the links are contacted by the forward end of the suctionchamber 67. From this point, each sheet 19 is secured to its respectivecarrying link by suction pressure. Itis released over the proper sortingcompartment 86, 87, 88, 89, et seq. when the triggers 38 on itsparticular carrying link 40 close both switches 8S for one of thesolenoid valves 82. A short blast of compressed air into the recess 68in the link quickly removes the sheet 19 from the link and deposits itin the correct sorting compartment. After the entire group of sheets hasbeen sorted, the machine is stopped by interrupting the power supply tothe motor 25. The conveyor belt 9@ may then be operated in an obviousmanner to bring each sorting compartment to the front of the machine sothat the sorted sheets 19 may be removed by the operator.

ln the modified form of our invention shown in Figures 1143, a tapereceives intelligence from the keyboard 111. The tape 11) may take anyconvenient or desirable form and, as shown in the drawings, cornprises astrip of paper into which holes 112 may be punched. The location of theholes depends upon which of the keys 113 are actuated by the operator.The tape 11) may be mounted in a supply coil 114 and pass through thethroat 115. A series of punches 116, operated by solenoids 117, areadapted to punch the holes 112 in the paper tape. The actuation of anyparticular key 113 closes a switch 118 to energize a particular solenoid117. The tape 118 is wound on a take-up spool 119 by means of a sprocket120 driving through a slip clutch 121. The sprocket receives its powerfrom chain 1122, sprocket 123, sprocket 124, chain 125, sprocket 126 andpower transmission 127. The operator observes the number or letter oneach of the sheets 19a as they pass through the viewing conveyer 128 andpunches a corresponding key 113. The sheets 19a are then stacked in thesame order in the receptacle 129. The sequence of hole spacings in thetape then corresponds to the numbers or letters on the sheets 19a in thereceptacle 129.

The punched tape 110 may then be employed to control the operation ofsorting the sheets 19a in the sorting conveyer 14. In this form of ourinvention the tape operated switch mechanism 130 is used in conjunctionwith the trigger setting mechanism 15, previously described. The punchedtape 11) is caused to pass through a switch contact box 131 having aplurality of spring mounted contact lingers 132 positioned therein.Whenever a pair of holes 112 in the tape pass over the ends of thesefingers, a pair of contacts close to complete an electrical circuitthrough one of the solenoids 35, thereby swinging one of the levers 37to depress a trigger 38 relative to its carrier bar 39. In this case,the tape 110 controls the trigger setting solenoids 3S instead ofoperating them directly from the keyboards 17 and 18. The

operation of the sorting conveyer 14 is substantially the same asdescribed above. The triggers 38 actuate switches 85 for energizingsolenoid valves 82; These `draw air under pressure through nozzles 84 toovercome the vacuum pressure within the recess 68 in the carrier link 40and thereby release the sheet 19a.

While we have shown and described a paper tape lli) having holes 112punched therein for controlling the trigger setting mechanism l5, itwill be understood 'that a magnetic tape instead of a punch tape couldbe employed if desired. In such a case, the switches 5.18 would eachcause a distinctive signal to be passed to the magnetizing element of amagnetic tape device and thereby impress a characteristic magneticpattern on the tape. The separated patterns along the magnetic tap-ewould then be used in a magnetic pick up device to energize thesolenoids 35 in the trigger setting mechanism i5.

Figure lla shows structure substantially identical with that shown inFigure ll, except that magnetic tape is being used to receive`infornuttion 'from the keys on the keyboard. A plurality of adjacentrecording heads 134 (only one of which is shown) are positioned over amagnetic tape which passes under them. Each head may be said to write ina track, which is the area of tape passing under that head. There isonly one head associated with each key. When a key is depressed, thelever attached thereto will close a switch 133. The switch will causecurrent to tlow from a potential source 33.35 through the associated oneof the magnetic recording heads 134 to record a magnetic pulse in thetrack on the magnetic tape 136. It will be understood that the magneticheads l34 correspond to the hole-punching mechanism il? in Figure ll.Thus, for each key which is depressed there will be a different switch133 which is connected to a dilerent head i3d, thereby a magnetic pulsepattern is recorded on the tape representative of the keys which aredepressed. Further operation of the apparatus is identical with thatdescribed for Figure ll, and thus further description is not necessary.

Figure 12a is substantially identical with Figure except that magnetictape is employed in place of the punched paper tape. The magnetic tape136 is advanced as previously described past the magnetic tape readingstation, which includes several magnetic Sensing heads 140. Whenever thepresence of a pulse is sensed by one of these magnetic sensing heads,the output is applied to an associated one of many amplifiers M2, whichprovides an output in response having sutlicient current to energize thesolenoid 15 and the solenoid S2 if the switches 85 are closed. lt willbe recognized that the pulse pattern on the magnetic tape serves in ananalogous manner to the hole pattern on the paper tape shown in Figure13.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we donot wish to be limited to the details herein set forth but our inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a device for sorting paper sheets or the like according to indiciathereon, the combination of: an endless conveyer having a plurality ofduplicate link elements, pneumatic means for securing each of the sheetsin sequence to one of said link elements, a plurality of pneumaticdischarge means spaced along the length of the conveyer at stationarylocations fortseparating each sheet from its respective link element,and means including movable parts on each link element for actuatingsaid discharge means.

2. In a device for sorting paper sheets or the like according to indiciathereonJ the combination of: an endless conveyer having a plurality ofduplicate link elements, means for feeding the sheets in sequence tosaid conveyer, suction means for securing each of the sheets in.sequence to one of said link elements, a plurality of fluid pressureinjecting means spaced along the length of the conveyer at stationarylocations for separating each sheet from its respective link element,and means on each link element for actuating said uid pressure injectingmeans.

3. In a device for sorting paper sheets or the like acitl cording toindicia thereon, the combination of: an endless conveyer having aplurality of duplicate link elements, a plurality of triggers movablysupported on each of said link elements, suction means for securing eachof the sheets in sequence to one of said link elements, a plurality offluid pressure discharge means spaced along the length of the conveyerfor separating a sheet from its respective link element, and meanswhereby each of said discharge means may be actuated by certain of saidtriggers.

4. In a device for sorting paper sheets or the like according to indiciathereon, the combination of: an endless conveyer having a plurality ofduplicate link elements, a plurality of triggers movably supported oneach of said link elements, means for selectively moving certain of saidtriggers during operation of the conveyer, means for feeding the sheetsin sequence to said conveyer, suction means for securing each of thesheets in sequence to one of said link elements, a plurality of fluidpressure injecting means spaced along `the length of the conveyer atstationary locations for separating a sheet from its respective linkelement, and means whereby each of said iiuid pressure injecting meansmay be actuatedV by certain of said triggers.

5. In a device for sorting paper sheets or the like according to indiciathereon, the combination of: an endless conveyer having a plurality ofduplicate link elements, switch operating triggers movably supported oneach of said link elements, means for selectively actuating certain ofsaid triggers during movement of the conveyer, means for feeding thesheets in sequence to said conveyer, suctic-n means for securing each ofthe sheets in sequence to one of said link elements, a plurality of uidpressure discharge means spaced along the length of the conveyer atstationary locations for separating a sheet from its respective linkelement, a series of sorting compartments positioned along the path oftravel of said conveyer, at least one electric switch associated witheach of said compartments and adapted to be actuated by certain of saidtriggers, and means whereby each of said discharge means may be actuatedby electric circuits closed by certain of said electric switches.

6. In a device for sorting paper sheets or the like accordingrto indiciathereon, the combination of: an endless conveyer having a plurality ofduplicate link elements, switch operating triggers movably supported oneach of said link elements, means for selectively actuating certain ofsaid switch operating means during movement of the conveyer, suctionmeans for securing each of the sheets in sequence to one of said linkelements, a plurality of fluid pressure injection means spaced along thelength of the conveyer for separating a sheet from its respective linkelement, a series of sorting compartments positioned along the path oftravel of said conveyer, at least one electric switch associated witheach of said compartments and adapted to be actuated by certain of saidtriggers, and means whereby each of said fluid pressure injection meansmay be actuated by electric circuits closed by certain of said electricswitches.

7. In a device for sorting paper sheets or the like according to indiciathereon, the combination of: an endless conveyer having a plurality of(triplicate link elements, switch operating means movably supported oneach of said link elements, means for selectively actuating certain ofsaid switch operating means during movement of the conveyer, means forfeeding the sheets in sequence to said conveyer, suction means forsecuring each of the sheets in sequence to one of said link elements, aplurality of fluid pressure injection means spaced along the length ofthe conveyer for separating a sheet `from its respective link element, aseries of sorting compartments positioned along the path of travel ofsaid conveyer, at least one electric switch associated with each of saidcompartments and adapted to be actuated by the switch operating means,`and means whereby each of said tluid pressure injection means may beactuated by electric circuits closed by certain of said electricswitches.

8. In a sorting conveyer, the combination of: a plurality of duplicatelinks pivotally connected to form an endless band, power means formoving the links in a predetermined path, each of the links having aface provided with a plurality of apertures, each link having a recesstherein communicating with said apertures, resilient sealing meansinterposed between adjacent links, means for subjecting each of the linkrecesses to suction pressure, a plurality of valves spaced along thelength of said conveyer, means supplying air under pressure to each ofsaid valves, a nozzle on each valve for directing air pressure into saidlink recesses, and means operated by movement of the links for openingeach of said valves.

9. In a sorting conveyer, the combination of: a plurality of duplicatelinks pivotally connected to form an endless band, power means formoving the links in a predetermined path, each of the links having aface provided with a plurality of apertures, each link having a recesstherein communicating wit-h said apertures, resilient sealing meansinterposed between adjacent links, means for subjecting each of the linkrecesses to suction pressure, said means comprising an inverted channelmember having side portions thereon in sliding contact with said linksand said sealing means, means for subjecting the interior of saidinverted channel member to suction pressure, a plurality of valvesspaced along the length of said channel member, means supplying airunder pressure to each of said valves, a nozzle on each valve fordirecting air pressure into said link recesses, and means operated bymovement of the |links for opening each of said valves.

10. In a sorting conveyer, the combination of: upper and lower ightspassing around sprockets at the ends thereof, each of the flights havinga plurality of duplicate links pivotally connected end to end, each ofthe links having a convexly curved working face on one side and asubstantially at sealing face on the opposite side, the

radius of the curve of each link being so related to the effectiveradius of at least one of said ,sprockets that the said working faces ofthe links rounding said sprocket lie substantially on a singlecylindrical surface having its axis coincident with the sprocket axis,and seal means slidably engaging the ilat faces of a plurality of linksin one of said flights.

11. In a sorting conveyer, the combination of: upper and lower flightspassing around sprockets at the ends thereof, each of the flights havinga plurality of duplicate links pivotally connected end to end, each ofthe links having a convexly curved working face and a flat sealing face,the radius of the curve of each link being so related to the eiectiveradius of at least one of said sprockets that the said working faces ofthe links rounding said sprocket lie substantially on a singlecylindrical surface having its axis coincident with the sprocket axis,each of the links having a recess therein and a plurality of aperturesin the working face communicating with said recess, and a suctionpressure applying member having portions slidably engaging the flatsealing faces on the links in one of said nights.

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